Yesterday, a charitable foundation was launched in memory of Amy Winehouse who sadly passed away in July. The Amy Winehouse Foundation launched on what would have been the singer’s 28th birthday in an attempt to honor her memory with the causes that she held dear. The foundation will focus on children and young people in Britian and abroad who are faced with problems of ill health, disability and addiction.

Winehouse’s father, Mitch, believes that the foundation will help his daughter continue to touch the lives of others. He said in a statement, “Amy touched millions throughout the world, and I know she will continue to, through the foundation.” According to the New York Post, Mitch spoke about his daughters generosity in the statement and her love of children.

The “Back to Black” singer was no stranger to charitable causes nor was she a stranger to facing her own battles and challenges with addiction. She was very active in raising awareness about breast cancer, going so far as to appear naked in Easy Living magazine to draw attention to the cause, and in raising awareness about other causes such as HIV, hearing loss, poverty, rape/sexual abuse, and human rights.

The launch of the Amy Winehouse Foundation also coincided with the release of her final recording, “Body and Soul.” The recording is a duet between the young blues-y, jazz singer and 85-year-old American show tunes and jazz singer Tony Bennett.

Proceeds from the duet will go the foundation and help keep Winehouse’s charitable actions alive by benefiting the young people who need it most. According to Entertainment Weekly, Amy’s mother Janis said in a statement, “We want to give money to projects that make a direct difference. It is a source of great comfort to know that Amy would be proud of this and right behind it.”

About lindastcyr

Linda St.Cyr is a writer, blogger, activist, and short story author. When she isn’t writing or raising her kids with her life partner, she is busy being vocal about feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and bringing attention to human rights violations all over the world.